Eyeglass frame with flanged bridge of NT alloy

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an eyeglass frame which uses parts made of an NT alloy. The eyeglass frame according to the present invention comprises a bridge (9) formed of a material which is difficult to work and a pair of right and left rims (2) which are formed integrally with opposite ends of said bridge (9). With this arrangement, easy production processes can be achieved and the number of parts can be reduced, whereby it is possible to mass-produce eyeglass frames.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an eyeglass frame employing a materialwhich is extremely difficult to work, for example, an NT alloy (shapememory alloy).

BACKGROUND ART

A conventional eyeglass frame of this type is shown as an eyeglass frame100 in FIG. 5. The eyeglass frame 100 comprises a pair of rims 101.Temples 103 are secured to the pair of rims 101 by means of hinges 102,respectively.

Each of the rims 101 supports a lens 104 by its inner periphery.

In addition, the rims 101 are connected to each other at their innerportions by means of a bridge 105. The bridge 105 has an inverted Ushape, and its opposite ends are threadedly secured to the innerportions of the rims 102 by screws 106, respectively.

However, according to the above-described prior art, since the bridge105 is secured by the screws 106 as described above, securing operationsare needed and the number of manufacturing steps as well as the numberof parts increases. In particular, if an NT alloy (shape memory alloy)is employed as the material of the bridge 105, serious problems will beencountered in that it is difficult to cut the NT alloy. For example, ifscrew-mounting holes are to be formed in the bridge 105 made of the NTalloy and screws are to be threadedly fitted into the holes,time-consuming working is required and mass production is extremelydifficult.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to solve theabove-described problem which have been experienced with the prior art,that is, the problem that an large number of working steps are requiredand mass production is therefore impossible. The present invention ischaracterized by comprising a bridge made of an NT alloy and a pair ofright and left rims each having an inner portion formed integrally withone end of the bridge. With the above-described arrangement, it is notnecessary to cut or drill the bridge and eyeglass frames of the samedesign can be advantageously mass-produced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view showing an eyeglass frame accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an partial enlarged view showing the manner in which a bridgeis secured to the eyeglass frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing a method of securing a side joint tothe eyeglass frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mold for use in producingeyeglass frames; and

FIG. 5 is a front view showing an eyeglass frame according to the priorart.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, an eyeglass frame 1 according to the presentinvention comprises plastics rims 2. Each of the rims 2 supports asubstantially circular lens 2a at its inner side.

Opposite sides 2b of the rims 2 are provided with side joints 3, and atemple 6 is pivotally secured to a hinge 4 of each of the side joints 3.Each of the side joints 3 has a bend 3a which is formed by bending oneend of a stripe-shaped member. The bend 3a is disposed on the front sideof each rim 2 when the temple 6 is to be secured. The inner side of theside joint 3 is provided with a screw-mounting hole 7 of cylindricalconfiguration. The side joints 3 are secured to the opposite sides 2b ofthe respective rims 2 with screws 8 threadedly fitted into thecorresponding screw-mounting holes 7.

The hinge 4 is secured to an extension of each of the side joints 2, andthe hinge 4 comprises a frame 4a and a hinge screw 4b. The temple 6 madeof a material which is extremely difficult to work, for example, an NTalloy, is secured pivotally on the hinge 4.

A bridge 9 for connecting a pair of right and left rims 2 will beexplained below. The bridge 9 has an inverted U shape and two ends 9aand 9b. Each of the ends 9a and 9b is provided with flange portions 9cand 9d, and these flange portions 9c and 9d are formed integrally witheach of the inner sides of the respective rims 2. Thus, the pair ofright and left rims 2 is fixedly connected to each other.

A method of connecting the bridge 9 to the rims 2 will be explainedbelow. FIG. 4 shows a mold assembly 10 for molding the rims 2, and themold assembly 10 comprises an upper mold 11 and a lower mold 12.Depressions 13, which corresponds to the respective rims 2 of theeyeglass frame 1 which is finished as a product, are formed in the lowermold 12, while a depression (not shown) corresponding to the eyeglassframe 1 is formed in the upper mold 11. In addition, a depression 14 isformed between the depressions 13 corresponding to the right and leftrims 2. This depression 14 serves to receive the bridge 9 duringmolding.

When the eyeglass frame 1 is to be formed by using the mold assembly 10,the bridge 9 is fitted into the aforesaid depression 14. After the uppermold 11 and the lower mold 12 have been combined, a molten plasticmaterial is charged through an introduction port which is defined incommunication with the depressions 13. When a predetermined time elapsesand the plastic material is solidified, the upper mold 11 and the lowermold 12 are separated from each other and the finished rims 2 of theeyeglass frame 1 is taken out.

Since the eyeglass frame 1 according to the present invention has theabove-described arrangement, it can be easily produced and, in addition,the number of parts can be reduced and mass production is thereforepossible.

Although the foregoing explanation refers to the NT alloy as one exampleof material which is extremely difficult to work, another kind of alloymay of course be employed.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The eyeglass frame according to the present invention employs parts madeof a material which is extremely difficult to work, for example, an NTalloy, but can be easily produced with a reduced number of parts. Inaddition, the eyeglass frame of the present invention finds suitable usein the field of eyeglass frames which can be mass-produced.

I claim:
 1. An eyeglass frame, comprising:right and left frame portionsfor supporting right and left lenses therein; right and left templespivotally attached to said right and left frame portions, respectively;and a bridge member connecting said right and left frame portions, saidbridge member including two ends with each end provided with a flangedportion thereupon, said bridge member being formed of an NT alloy, saidright and left frame portions are formed of a molded plastic material,and are molded to surround the flanged portions of the bridge, whereinthe flanged portions are anchored in the right and left frame portions.